Thakadu River Lodge in the Madikwe game reserve in the North West Province of South Africa is a prime example of successful empowerment projects at work, with its powerful combination of big business marketing expertise and community involvement and profit.

More than a behind-the-scenes business arrangement, the community spirit generated by their hands on involvement in running of the business, can be felt throughout the lodge. Where five star lodges frequently tend to make the tourist feel as if they are walking on hallowed ground, as designer khakis mingle with haute cuisine and the strongest Safari is Ralph Lauren’s perfumed version, Thakadu is different.

Guests are greeted in Setswana, the local language, in a genuine and warm manner and made to feel as if they have entered a village home. Kicking off one’s shoes and curling up on a couch in this lodge’s lounge would probably go unnoticed. Name tags become unnecessary as staff members introduce themselves and their colleagues in a friendly manner and ensure that every guest request receives immediate attention. There is a lingering air of propriety – and a look into the ownership structure explains why. Thakadu is an example of a business development having empowered a local community in a uniquely successful way.

Madikwe Game Reserv, North West province

When Madikwe game reserve was established, part of the proposed park area encompassed land belonging to the Molatedi community. The challenge was to incorporate the local community of Molotedi into the development projects and ensure that they benefited from the Madikwe development processes. The subsequent implementation of community involvement and upliftment structures by Madikwe, is hailed as one the success stories in poverty eradication in democratic South Africa.

The Molatedi community owns and operates the lodge. It is currently leased by the Madikwe collection under management contract. At the most basic level, the majority of the staff is drawn from the local community, while members of the community also serve on the management board and have input into all decisions pertaining to the lodge and how it affects the community, ensuring that funds are not only channeled into immediate projects, but invested with future developments in mind.

Skills Transfer Benefits the Local Community

Skills transfer takes place continually with the aim of ensuring that when the Madikwe Collection’s management contract ends in a few year’s time, the community role players will be fully equipped to run the lodge at the same operating level at which it currently functions and have the hands on know-how to maintain and sustain the enterprise at profitable levels .

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